At African Union Summit, UN Women Executive Director to call for women’s full participation to accelerate peace and sustainable development

Date :
29 January 2014

She will emphasize the centrality of women’s empowerment and gender equality to Agenda 2063 and post-2015 international development framework

On the occasion of the 22nd African Union Heads of States and Governments Summit, to be held from 29 January through 1 February 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will make a strong call for gender equality and women’s empowerment, both as goals in their own right and as essential to peace, security and sustainable development.

In official and bilateral meetings, the Executive Director will share her vision of women’s and girls’ empowerment and gender equality as vital to the African Renaissance, the African Union’s AGENDA 2063, and the post-2015 international development framework. Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka will urge women’s full and equal participation, including in peace processes such as in South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

During her mission she is scheduled to meet with several Heads of State and Government, and officials including Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; Mary Robinson, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Great Lakes Region; Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank, and Dr. Carlos Lopez, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. They will discuss ongoing collaboration and upcoming intergovernmental events such as the Commission on the Status of Women, the post-2015 development agenda, and the upcoming Beijing +20 review.

Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka will also participate in several events, including a High-Level Intergenerational Dialogue organized by the YWCA in partnership with UN Women, with the participation of the Presidents of Malawi and Rwanda, Madame Dlamini-Zuma, and a number of young women leaders from across the continent.

The Executive Director will also meet with senior women leaders to explore the best means to advance women’s rights and full and equal participation. On Friday 31 January, she will meet with UN Women staff in Ethiopia and speak at the Africa First Ladies Annual General Assembly, where she will share UN Women’s vision and strategic focus, especially to address HIV and AIDS and reduce its disproportionate impact on women and girls.